Portuguese Institute’s Precision Fertilisation Technology Wins Innovation Prize, Reduces Waste and Environmental Impact
Portuguese R&D institute, INESC TEC, has received recognition for its precision fertilisation technology, which won third place in the Innovation Prize awarded by the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO). This groundbreaking technology enables the optimal use of fertilisers, reducing waste and environmental impact.
The innovation, called MyNPK – Precision Fertilisation Sensing Technology, has the ability to manage and optimise the application of fertilisers based on the nutritional requirements of plants. By doing so, it minimises waste and its detrimental effects on the environment. INESC TEC’s achievement is particularly significant as it is the only Portuguese organisation among the winners of the EARTO Innovation Awards.
MyNPK represents a major advancement in agricultural practices by combining spectroscopy and artificial intelligence. It quantifies the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) in liquid fertilisers in real-time and in situ. The technology is not limited to specific applications but can be used in hydroponics, fertigation, soil fertilisers, organic fertilisers, and even measuring nutrient uptake by plants.
Precision fertilisation involves using advanced technologies and data analysis to supply the right amount of nutrients to crops at the precise time, considering their specific needs. Rui Costa Martins, the principal investigator of the project at INESC TEC, explains that their solution eliminates the reliance on laboratory-based quantification using complex compositional samples. Instead, it employs chemical network inference to determine NPK specifications and optimise nutrient flow based on the plant’s physiology and uptake. This approach maximises productivity while minimizing the environmental and water quality impacts associated with traditional fertilisation methods.
The recent award ceremony held in Brussels on October 11th celebrated INESC TEC’s outstanding accomplishment. Established in 2009, the EARTO Innovation Awards aim to acknowledge the contributions of science and technology organisations across Europe that have significant social impacts. INESC TEC’s success in the Impact Expected category highlights the potential of MyNPK to create positive transformations in society and facilitate technology transfer to the market.
With its patented technology already tested in hydroponics and recognised in multiple countries, INESC TEC’s innovation stands out for its ability to quantify NPK directly at the cultivation site without the need for reagents. This remarkable achievement brings the agricultural sector one step closer to efficient, resilient, and sustainable food production. By reducing waste and enhancing resource efficiency, MyNPK has the potential to revolutionise the farming and horticultural industries.
In a world where sustainable practices are of utmost importance, the precision fertilisation technology developed by INESC TEC showcases the power of technological advancements in meeting global challenges. By reducing waste and its environmental impact, this innovation has the potential to contribute significantly to a more sustainable future for agriculture.
